absagen

Absagen is a German verb with two related senses. Primarily, it means to cancel or call off something, such as an event, meeting, flight, or appointment. It can also mean to decline or refuse an invitation or proposal. As a noun, Absage (plural Absagen) denotes a cancellation or rejection, for example a notice of cancellation or a rejection letter.

Grammatically, absagen is a separable-prefix verb. In the present tense you typically separate the prefix: ich sage das Treffen ab. In the perfect tense it forms with the auxiliary haben: wir haben das Meeting abgesagt. In the simple past, the prefix moves to the end of the clause: wir sagten das Treffen ab. The past participle is abgesagt. The verb pairs with a direct object indicating what is canceled or declined, for example den Termin, die Reise, die Einladung.

Common usages include canceling appointments or events (einen Termin absagen, eine Veranstaltung absagen), and declining invitations (eine Einladung absagen) or proposals. The noun Absage appears in phrases like eine Absage erhalten or eine Absage per E-Mail, referring to a cancellation or a rejection notice.

Related terms include zusagen, the opposite meaning: to agree, accept, or commit to something. Other related expressions describe the outcome of absagen, such as eine Absage erteilen (to issue a rejection) or eine Absage geben (to give a cancellation). In business and formal communication, precise wording often distinguishes a cancellation (Absage) from a postponement or rescheduling.